E-Blast!

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Bridgewater UMC E-Blast

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Hello everyone! Happy Mother's Day!

First of all, thank you for your support in allowing me to be out for two conferences at the Church of the Resurrection UMC in Kansas City. I went for two leadership conferences. One was called Lead(HER), which was their first gathering for clergywomen. There were about 20 clergywomen from Virginia there representing! The second conference was called Leading Beyond the Walls and presented a good overview of ministry ideas and tips. You will be hearing more about this in the weeks to come. Just like when you are cultivating plants and you have to aerate the soil to get them to grow, time away allowed time and space for conversation, hearing great speakers, and new perspective. Thank you!

Also, I announced last Sunday that I will be returning to Bridgewater UMC as your pastor for another year of ministry and service. I am very excited about where we are as a church community together and look forward to another year of being your spiritual leader. This was a decision discerned by the VAUMC Cabinet and BUMC SPRC and myself. We continue to grow together by God's grace. Looking forward to another GREAT year of ministry!

This Sunday (tomorrow) is Mother's Day! The Children's Choir will be singing and we will have a special children's message (with a special guest) to say thank you to Joey Capuano for his time as our Children's Ministry Director. The sermon will focus on Psalm 23.

I found this quote that I thought was very appropriate:

On Mother’s Day, I often return to this passage attributed to Edmond McDonald in the Presbyterian Outlook: “When God wants an important thing done in this world or a wrong righted, He goes about it in a very singular way. He doesn’t release thunderbolts or stir up earthquakes. God simply has a tiny baby born, perhaps of a very humble home, perhaps of a very humble mother. And God puts an idea or purpose into the mother’s heart. And she puts it in the baby’s mind, and then—God waits. The great events of this world are not battles and elections and earthquakes and thunderbolts. The great events are babies, for each child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with humanity, but is still expecting goodwill to become incarnate in each human life.” And so God produces the leaders, artists, activists, and thinkers who go on to change the world. How many of them were blessed to be spurred on in childhood by a mother’s boundless encouragement and faith, or her determination to make a way out of no way?

Read more at https://www.childrensdefense.org/prayers-for-mothers-day-2/ (copy & paste into your browser)

Remember that Easter wasn't the ending but the beginning!

Let's grow together in 2025! Blessings, Pastor Mary

Please continue to share the good news that our worship time is at 10 AM.

Keep inviting friends & neighbors to Sunday School at 9 AM & joyful, meaningful worship at 10 AM!

Joys and answered prayers

Rick Ours' shoulder is healing (Karen Chamblee's friend)
Thank you God for the love of Jesus, our church, our family and our friends
We give thanks for God's grace and mercy

Prayers of sympathy for the family of:
Doris Wheelbarger Bowman (Jo Ellen Bowman's mother-in-law)
Barbara Huffman (Grace Fishback's friend)

Current Prayer Concerns:

Donald Brownlee

Grayson Byler and his parents, Josh and Megan, and family
Marc Craun
Gregg Kiracofe
Linda Moser
Mitzi Puffenbarger

Ongoing Prayer Needs of our Congregation

Georgia Lee Byerly

Don Capuano

Grace Fishback

Betty Foley

Henry and Dorice Graham

Janice Harper

Casey Hartman

Rodney Hildebrand

Deidra Hill

Barbara Kiracofe

Dorothy Lion

Doris MacDaniel

Ray Michael

Stephany Plecker

Luther Ramsey

Joanne Simpkins

Bonnie Snook

Sandra Stroud

Vic Taylor

Nancy Thomas

Gary and Marcia Tyeryar

Donald Usry

Doris Waters

For the people affected by natural disasters and the people helping them

For our nation, the decisions of the new administration, congress and the courts; and may God bless America

For peace in Ukraine and the Middle East and for all of the people living there

May there be peace on earth, and may it begin with us

For Bridgewater UMC - for growth in spirit and faith

For all of the active duty members of our armed forces, for veterans and for our first responders

Our children and grandchildren and our families and friends

For college, high school, middle school and elementary students - for their learning and grades

For better health and more strength. For successful medical treatments

For patience. For strength to spread the gospel even when it's hard

Help us to put God first in everything we do

Those who think that God has deserted them in the midst of today's world circumstances

For people and families dealing with depression and anxiety, with mental illness and with addiction

For less death in our family, for peace and grace in facing grief and loss

Those who are mourning or afraid and for all those fighting cancer

Worship Volunteers for this Sunday, May 11, 2025 (2nd Sun)

Greeters Bonnie & Tom Snook

Ushers Sara & Bill Walton

Reader Judy & Jim Tongue

Audio-Visual Scott Ridder

Acolytes Taylor Family

Sanctuary Servers Sara & Bill Walton

Thank You from the Circle of Love
The Circle of Love would like to thank all those who bought carnations for Mother’s Day. We appreciate your support of our fundraiser.

Thank You from Dorice & Henry Graham
We appreciate all of your cards and support through our recent move.

UMCOR Hygiene Kits for Conference

The United Women in Faith will be collecting items for the Hygiene Kits again this year. A box will be in the hallway until May 29th for your donations. Feel free to complete your own kits also. A list of items and how to assemble them will be on the reading cart. The completed kits will be taken to Vision of Hope UMC in Harrisonburg for collection by UMCOR.

Thank you for your support of this important mission!

Camp Overlook Reminder It’s time to register for camp! Call or email: (540) 269-2267 or campoverlook@gmail.com, or visit campoverlook.com. There are a few brochures left under the BUMC Kids bulletin board

SPRC Updates!

The SPRC Committee and the entire Bridgewater United Methodist Church family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Joey Capuano for his faithful service and dedication to the children of BUMC.
As of mid-May, Joey will be stepping down from his role as Children’s Minister. His presence, leadership, and unwavering love for Jesus have made a lasting impact on our church community. Thank you, Joey, for organizing memorable events and, most importantly, for sharing Christ’s love with our children in such meaningful ways. Your ministry has touched many lives, and we are truly grateful.
Thankfully, Joey will still be part of our music ministry team at BUMC!

We are thrilled to share that Pastor Mary will be returning to Bridgewater United Methodist Church for another year of ministry! Her compassionate leadership and joyful spirit have been such a blessing to our congregation, and we look forward to all that God has in store for us in the coming year. Here's to another fabulous year together at BUMC!

We love to celebrate the achievement of our graduates! If you or someone in your family is graduating from High School and beyond (associates, college, university, grad school, trade school...) please let us know! We would like to have the grad's name, relationship to you, their contact information, name of their school, the degree, and a picture. Please provide the information to Robin in the church office. Congratulations, grads!

Join us for the 2025 United Women in Faith Spring Banquet
“Be My Neighbor”
Monday, May 19th 2025 @ 6:30pm
featuring guest speaker, Keisha Duncan,
from Our Community Place in Harrisonburg.

*Please sign up on the sheet in the hallway so we can plan accordingly, bring a friend!
* Bring a side dish or dessert to share- meats and drinks will be provided
*We will be collecting toiletries for the clients at Our Community Place
Most Needed Items Include: Shower Products, Dental Hygiene Products, Personal Hygiene Products, and Feminine hygiene products. See below for specific items recommended.

Toiletries for Our Community Place (OCP)

Our Community Place works alongside ~200 individuals each month facing housing insecurity & poverty by providing meals & resources. Access to hygiene products is a persistent challenge for many of our community members. The United Women in Faith invites you to collect items for OCP:

**shampoo & conditioner

**bars of soap & body wash

**razors & shaving cream

**toothpaste & toothbrushes & stick floss

**deodorant

**lotion & chap stick

**feminine hygiene products

Please place items in the box by the office. If you have questions, contact Kathi Hemmis or Karen Chamblee. Thank you!

BUMC Youth Group Presents:
Water Wars & BBQ - Coming May 31st

Hey Bridgewater/Dayton UMC Youth!

Bridgewater UMC Presents: Water Wars & BBQ!
Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Bridgewater Community Park (Oakdale Park)
Get ready for a splash-filled afternoon of fun!
Join us for:
• An epic water balloon fight
• Slip-n-slide kickball
• All-out super soaker battle
• Games and Music
• Food
After the fun, enjoy a BBQ-style dinner for all guests—families, kids, and friends welcome!
Bring:
• Swimsuits or clothes you don’t mind getting soaked
• Towels
• A fun and friendly spirit!

Zoom Check-in Every Sunday at 7 PM

Don't forget our check-in Sunday evenings at 7 PM. Contact Jomo if you need the link!

Blessings, Jomo Johnson (240) 328-5847 dumbumyouth@gmail.com

Hi, BUMC kiddos, friends, and families!

I would just like to say thank you to all our congregation and leaders for supporting the children in their preparation and celebrating the Mother's Day Service this Sunday! And, God bless mothers and all mother figures! We celebrate you today!

As Pastor Mary always says, GOD IS GOOD! Lets continue to share THIS MOST AWESOME TRUTH with all the world!

If you would like any additional information about things, contact Joey via email at joeycapuano@gmail.com, by phone at (540) 421-4169, or through our Group Me app. You can also ask to be included in our Group Me app if you aren't already!

As always, your friend in Faith, Hope, and Love, Joey

Chordially Yours of the Shenandoah Valley, a 30-member professional choir under the direction of artistic director Scott Zane Smith, presents their spring concert, “It’s a Lovely Day” on Mother’s Day weekend, May 10-11, at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway. Our one-hour concert consists of sacred and secular music, with many familiar tunes. We will also be featuring guest artist Leslie Bradley Alger. Celebrate Mother’s Day with us! Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. For more information, find us on Facebook, @ Chordially Yours of the Shenandoah Valley.